Forest Action Plan 2020-2030.

The Forest Action Plan is a national policy covering the period from 2020 to 2030. This Forest Action Plan identifies the RMI’s highest priorities for forest resource management and needs for assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The priority areas of this policy are: biodiversity conservation, food security and sustainable livelihoods, coastal reinforcement, and urbanization.
Biodiversity conservation will be strengthened to ensure sustainable forest management. Management plans will be developed through Reimaanlok process, including planting, growing, maintaining and sustainably harvesting food crops, medicinal plants, trees and target species. A Forestry Division will be established under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce. Educational outreach as regards forest management will be expanded to include pest identification and management. Awareness will be raised on conserving traditional trees, plants and crops. A userfriendly database system for terrestrial information will be established by the Ministry by 2025.
Food security and sustainable livelihoods will be ensured by promoting and increasing production of agroforestry. This also contributes to production of high value market crops, community extension and education, and control of invasive plants. Traditional crops will be rejuvenated, and drought tolerant variety of indigenous food crops will be promoted. Environmental degradation will be minimized by planting salt-tolerant traditional trees along coastal areas; promoting tree plantings, including coconut replanting; promoting and preserving the diversity of traditional and cultural plants; supporting the development of appropriate agroforestry systems; and promoting urban forestry. Sustainable crop production systems will be developed and promoted. Soil conditions and water use will be improved. Control methods for pests and diseases will be developed. Crop diversity will be improved, conserved, and used. Appropriate agroforestry systems and a package of practices will be developed for producing major crops. The consumption of nutritious locally produced foods will be increased. Home gardens will be promoted to produce combination of starchy staples and nutritious traditional and exotic vegetables. Traditional knowledge on food preparation will be preserved. Proper nutrition will be promoted in schools. Biosecurity will be ensured through pests and diseases eradication and control programs, animal and crop protection programs, biocontrol measures, quarantine, pest prevention, early detection, public education, and monitoring and surveillance.
Terrestrial baseline survey (TBS) methodology will be developed, with a focus on coastal changes and vegetation, to be integrated into Reimaanlok. The capacity of partners will be built to implement TBS on all atolls. Ongoing monitoring and analysis will be enabled to inform management and replanting initiatives. The number of communities using traditional method of coastal protection will be increased. Protected areas will be established with a special emphasis on vulnerable coastlines. Seed bank and nursery will be established and maintained for variety of salt tolerant and coastal fixing vegetation, and seedlings will be distributed to communities to increase coastal vegetation.
The policy and legal frameworks will be developed to require/align tree planting activities on projects in urban areas. Public awareness will be raised on forest conservation. Action will be taken for engaging public in environmental literacy and stewardship to change in general attitude towards plants and forests. School planting activities will be promoted, and efforts will be made to interest youth in careers in agriculture and agro-forestry. Communities will be encouraged to use of organic/composting instead of burning waste.